Wine Spectator recognizes the Ashland restaurants for thoughtful service of high-quality vintages
By Jim Flint for Ashland.news
Two Ashland restaurants — Alchemy Restaurant and Bar and Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine — have earned national recognition for their exceptional wine programs.
Both received 2025 Wine Spectator restaurant awards, announced June 23 and to be featured in the magazine’s Aug. 31 issue. The prestigious awards spotlight dining establishments around the world that offer thoughtfully curated wine lists and a strong commitment to wine service.
Wine Spectator annually honors the best with awards in three tiers. This year 97 restaurants worldwide won the Grand Award, with wine lists typically boasting 1,000 or more selections, featuring a deep array of vintages from highly regarded producers and encompassing a range of bottle formats. To qualify for this top-tier recognition, candidates undergo a rigorous inspection by one of Wine Spectator’s judges.
Second- and third-tier honorees receive Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence (1,794 winners worldwide) and Award of Excellence (2,010 winners).
More than the pour
For more than 40 years, Wine Spectator has honored restaurants that it judges to excel at pairing wine with food, recognizing that its readers value the full dining experience — not just the wine itself. The magazine’s annual awards spotlight top destinations around the world where thoughtful wine programs enhance the meal.
Alchemy, located at the Winchester Inn, 35 S. Second St., won the Best of Award of Excellence. It has received the honor since 2015. Before that, it had earned Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, beginning in 2006.
Larks, located in Ashland Springs Hotel, 212 E. Main St., won the Award of Excellence, its fourth since 2022.
Best of Award of Excellence winners offer at least 350 selections. Wine Spectator judges find that they display breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation.
Award of Excellence winners typically offer 90 or more selections. They are found to feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.
Alchemy’s wine legacy
Drew Gibbs, a certified sommelier, is Alchemy co-owner with his parents, Laurie and Michael Gibbs.
“We’re thrilled to be on the Wine Spectator list again,” he said. “I truly believe that the more restaurants in the area getting this sort of recognition, the better.”
Alchemy has enlarged and evolved its wine list considerably since the restaurant received its first Wine Spectator award in 2006.
“But for us,” Gibbs said, “the focus has always been on Oregon wines, and it always will be. I’m very proud to represent Ashland, along with Larks. I hope visitors and locals alike get to fully explore the food and wine scene that the area has to offer.”
Wine Spectator said Alchemy is known for its cozy and intimate date night ambience, for its outdoor dining and as a destination for special occasions. It has 625 wine selections, with strengths in vintages from Oregon, California and France.
In addition to the Gibbs family, restaurant manager Nico Cruz and chef Evan Bolling are key personnel at Alchemy.
Neuman Reserve debuts
Neuman Hotel Group, owner of Larks, celebrated its 2025 award by announcing a collaboration with Irvine & Roberts Vineyard. The restaurant and winery are creating a limited-edition wine collection called Neuman Reserve.
Co-owner Doug Neuman said the move was the culmination of celebrating 20 years of serving “the best of local food and wine.”
“We’re proud to partner with a local winemaker who shares our standards and vision,” Neuman said. “Together we’ve created our very own private-label wines.”
The Neuman Reserve consists of three 2023 wines — a red blend, an estate chardonnay and an estate pinot noir. The red debuted in July at Larks. The chardonnay will be released in fall, the pinot noir this winter.
Neuman noted that Irvine & Roberts and the Rogue Valley AVA have been nominated for a USA Today 2025 Readers’ Choice 10 Best Award.
Wine Spectator said Larks is known for its wine tastings and wine events. It noted the restaurant’s focus on sustainability, healthy options and its historic location.
In addition to owners Doug and Becky Neuman, other key personnel at Larks include chef Francesco Console and bar supervisor Jay Villemin.
For more information about all 2025 award winners, visit winespectator.com/restaurants. To read about the Ashland winners or to book a table, visit alchemyashland.com or larksashland.com.
Freelance writer Jim Flint is a retired newspaper publisher and editor. Email him at jimflint.ashland@yahoo.com.
